Fish-ladder.



No. 841,662. PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

T. BRANCH.

FISH LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1906.

inn 5122501 citizen of the United States of America, re-' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BRANCH, 'ofiiitiita MICHIGAN. I

FISH-LADDER. j

To all whom it'ntwy concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS BRANoH, a

siding at Otisville, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Fish-Ladders,-of which the follbwing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in fish-ladders; and it consists in a new and useful arrangement and combination of arts, as will be more fully hereinafter descri ed, and set forth in the claims. a

The objects of my invention are: first, to plgoduce a lighted passage through which the h will pass; second, to form a series of water a rest and get a start for a jump, and, fourth, simplicity of construction.

In the drawin s, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladfer, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

A is a casing 0 en at the top and having transparent ane s in one or more sides an ends. I pre erably arrange such panels in both sides A and the downstream end A Any suitable material may be used for the frame; but I prefer to use an iron frame for simplicity and cheapness of construction and built up in sections flanged and bolted.

'' The water enters at the top of the casing at the upstream end by means of a supply chute or trough F, having one end pivoted on the casing and the other endsuitably arran ed for vertical adjustment, as by means of the standard S and Windlass T, to secure easy steps or falls; third, to provide deadthe proper flow of water therethrough when any change occurs in the level of the stream. The trough F is provided with a series of transverse partitions G to decrease the velocity of the Water.

The inlet for the fish and the outlet for the water is an opening a in the lower end of the downstream-wall A of the casing.

In the casin are a series of su erposed inclined planes I3, connecting the si es of the casing and extending from alternate ends of said casing to oints spaced from the opposite ends, and the water flows from one plane to the. next. The inclines are alternately arranged and slope against the direction of the current, so that the deepest water on each level is below the fall from the pre- Specification of Letters Patent.

. l Application filed September 22.1906- Serial No. 335,699.

acent each fall Where the fish can .ratented-Ian. 22,1907.

ceding level. The water falling over the spaced ends of the planes from one level to the next forms an easy um for the fish, for. the water at the foot 0 eac fall is dee as above stated, and conse uently almost ead, or at least slow; but to further assist and to provide resting-places I arrange partitions, as follows:

Below the spaced or fall end of each plane I arrange a transverse portition C, extending from side to side of the casing and from one plane to the next for aportion of the distance 'across the casing. For the remaining distance its top is cut away at D to rovide a deep pocket C, and approximate y at.the cut-away (point of the partition C to the adjacent en of the casln is a partition E, slightly lower than the full height of partition C and extending from said artition to the adjacent casing end or ane It is obvious that this forms a still d deper ocket E, and the jump from one plane to t e next is thus broken up into three small jumpsone over the cut-away portion D of partition C, the second over the partition E, and the third to the next plane.

To prevent too large a volume of water falling from the .s aeed 'end of one plane directly into the poo (ct C, I preferably arrangg inclined vertical baflle-plates or partitions onthe end of each plane.

By providing the transparent panels above mentioned the interior of the ladder is well lighted and the fish will enter without hesitation. As is well known, very few varieties of fish will enter a dark passage-way.

However, if desired to cheapen the construction any or all of the transparent panels may be replaced by concrete or cement plates suitably secured in the iron framework. The planes B and the sides of the dead-water pockets are preferably lined with cement, with gravel scattered over it to give a natural ap earance thereto.

at I claim is 1. In a fishladder, the combination with an open-top casing having an opening through the lower end of one wall, of a series of superposed inclined planes in said casing, for the purpose described. a

'2. In a' fish-ladder, the combination with an open-top casing having transparent panels and an opening through the lower end ofone wall, of a series of superposed inclined lanes in said casing, for the purpose described.

3. In a fish-ladder, the combination with ano en-top casing having an opening through the ower end of one wall, of a series of inclined lanesconnecting the sides of said casing and extending from alternate ends of said casing to points adjacent to the opposite ends, for the purpose described.

4. In a fish-ladder, the combination with an open-top casing having an opening through the ower end of one wall, of a series of inclined lanes connecting the sides of said casing -an extending from alternate ends of said casing topoints spaced from the opposite ends, and; transverse partitions below the spaced end of each plane, for the purpose described.

5. Ina fish-ladder, the combination with and BIlrtOPCZlSiIIg having ano eningthrough the ower end of one wall, of a series of inclined planes connecting the sides of said casing and extending from alternate ends thereof to points spaced from the'opposite ends, transverse partitions below the spaced end of each plane, the partitions extending from intermediate points on said transverse partition to the adjacent ends the purpose described.

6. In a fish-ladder, the combination with ano en-top casing having an opening through the ower end of one wall, of a series of superposed inclined planes in said casing, and means for leading water to the top of said casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BRANCH.

Witnesses:

JAMES P. BARRY, THOS. ODoNNELL.

of the casing, for- 

